Mature Stuff. Physical Activity for the Older Adult. INSTITUTION American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance, Reston, VA
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DOCUMENT RESUME ED 316 536 SP 032 092 AUTHOR Leslie, David K., Ed. TITLE Mature Stuff. Physical Activity for the Older Adult. INSTITUTION American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance, Reston, VA. REPORT NO ISBN-088314-433-6 PUB DATE 89 NOTE 251p. AVAILABLE FROMAmerican Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance, 1900 Associaticn Drive, Reston, VA 22091. PUB TYPE Reports - Descriptive (141) EDRS PRICE MFO1 Plus Postage. PC Not Available from EDRS. DESCRIPTORS Biomechanics; D..sabilities; Exercise Physiology; *Individual Characteristics; *Older Adults; *Physical Activities; Physical Activity Level, Physical Health; *Program Development ABSTRACT This book on physical education for the older adult is divided into three parts. The first part contains a chapter that introduces the reader to the topic of aging in American society and ties that topic to the interests of health professionals. Chapters 2 through 6 address the foundation areas of health, physical education, re,reation and dance from the perspective of aging and include chapters that focus on the subdisciplines of biomechanics, exercise physiology, health, motor learning, and measurement. The second part of the book addresses aging from a programmatic perspective and includes chapteirs on the learning environment, programming, handicapping conditions and programming adjustments, and leisure activities. The third part of the book addresses program coltent and includes chapters on chair and standing exercises and their selection, aquatic exercises, and dance. (JD) *********************************************************************** Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. *******A***********************AA************************************** MATURE STUFF: Physical Activity for the Older Adult David K. Leslie, Ed. Sponsored by the Council on Aging & Adult Development of the Association for Research, Administration, Prolessicnal Councils & Societies An association of the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Kecreation and Dance Acknowledgements Photos used at the beginning of each chapterwere provided by: Charles Daniel Linda Napier Wayne Osness Jacki Robichoux Cover photo by: Jim Kirby Copyright (c) 1989 American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance 1900 Association Drive Reston, Virginia 22091 ISBN 0-88.314-433-6 Purposes of the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance The American Alliance is an educational organization, structured for the purposes of support- ing, encouraging, and providing assistance to member groups and their personnel throughout the nation as they seek to initiate, develop, and conduct programs in health, leisure, and movement-related activities for the enrichment of human life. Alliance objectives include: 1. Professional growth and developmentto support, encourage, and provide guidance in the development and conduct of programs in health, leisure, and movement-related activities which are based on the needs, interests, and inherent capacities of the individual in today's society. 2. Communicationto facilitate public and professional understanding and appreciation of the importance and value of health, leisure, and movement-related activities as they contribute toward human well-being. 3. Researchto encourage and facilitate research which will enrich the depth and scope of health, leisure, and movement-related activities; and to disseminate the findings to the profession and other interested and concerned publics. 4. Standards and guidelinesto further the continuous development and evaluati stan- dards within the profession for personnel and programs in health, leisure, and MOVCITICA t-related activities. 5. Public affairsto coordinate and administer a planned program of professional, public, and governmental relations that will improve education in areas of health, leisure, and movement- related activities. 6. To conduct such other activities as shall be ar proved by the Board of Governorsand the Alliance Assembly, provided that the Alliance shall Pot engage in any activity which would he inconsistent with the status of an educational and charitable organization as defined in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 or any successor provision thereto, and none of the said purposes shall at any time be deemed or construed to be purposes other than the public benefit purposes and objectives consistent with such educational and charitable status. Bylaws, Article 111 J iii Foreword MATURE STUFF is the culmination of the ideas of .nany, and the dreams of a valiant group of pioneers from The American Alliance For Health, Pnysical Education, Recreation and Dance. AAHPERD is a voluntary professional education organization, made up of six national and six district associations with 54 state and territorial affiliates. The members are health and physical educators, coaches and athletic directors, and professional personnel in safety, leisure, education, and dance. AAHPERD is an umbrella for a number of allied disciplines and specialities within disciplines. Over the years, since AAHPERD's founding in 1885, health educators, physical eh,cators, coaches, dancers and choreographers, therapists, and recreation specialists have propose -; many purposes for human movement to accomplish a varietyof goals. Three categories of values have been described [Mosston, 1965]. The "Assigned" value belongs to the dancers and choreogra- phers who attribute a feeling, an idea, or a mood to a movement. The "Functional" value is in the domain of the coaches where specific movements are required for particular sport skills, The "Intrinsic" value of movement is concerned with the intentional development of physical attributes or components required to develop and mainta'n a healthy mind and body. It would appear that, for those advancing in age, all three goalswould be appropriate. To age successfully, an understanding of the components of total fitness is necessary.Extensive research has shown that the aged have the potential to improve work capacity and daily functioning, which makes the difference between remaining independent or becoming dependent. Ideally, preparation for a fit old age should begin in youth in order that maximum benefits may accrue. We now know that the conceptof trainability, even in old age, is valid. Exercise, good nutrition, and control of stress/relaxation is not necessarily to prolong life but to increase the years of feeling good. Chronological age is not a reliable barometer of physical condition, mental capacity, or behavior. Although we cannot stop the aging process, we can intervene to prevent or retard many of the disorders associated with aging. For the majority of older people, especially women, education and trained leadership are essential. Many do not know what constitutes a safe and good exercise program to provide the amount of exertion necessary to obtain the desired physical changes. We mayhave missed this new clientele some 50 years ago or they may havemissed opportunities due to leaving school early. Others may need to recall or refresh their physical skills. Members of our professions, all over the world, have the responsibility to helpdevelop new roles, new careers, new techniques and processes, and new program materials for work with older people. In order to respond to this challenge, the AAHPERD Committee On Aging was first appointed in 1974 by President Katherine Ley who reacted to research accomplished at The Andrus Foundation by Herbert deVries and a number of other research physiologists among our profes- sional colleagues. In testimony before the United States Subcommittee On Aging in 1976, it was noted that, "training of older people requires instructors with highly specialized preparation and skills and this resource was lacking." Early committees on Aging were small yet enthusiastic, I and working, and undaunted visionar- ies. During the years between 1974 and 1985, we believe we can safely say that an entire professional group became more aware of the needs of an older population with relation to health promotion and maintenance of fitness. A number of scholars, researchers, and practitioners from within The Alliance have updated their educational backgrounds and contributed to the literature 6 concerning aging and health. A variety ofprint and media materials have beendeveloped. Professional preparation forour students is moving forward anda number of varied and interesting programs, serving the oldercitizen, are in progressacross the nation. The Alliance has become affiliated withgerontological societies and has sharedin conference programs with The American Association of Retired Persons,The National Council On The Aging/National Volunteer OrganizationsFor Independent Living Of The Aged, TheAmerican Society On Aging, Elderhostel, SeniorGames, and The Association For Gerontologyin Higher Education, to mentiona few. Members are active on the local level in theAging 'Network. Leadership Workshopsare being provided by way of District Conferences. In 1985, The Board of Governors of TheAmerican Alliance For Health, PhysicalEducation, Recreation and Dance saw fit to permanently structure a Council On Aging and AdultDevelop- ment [CARD] under the Association for Research,Administration, Professional Councilsand Societies [ARAPCS]. The Council OnAging and Adult Development isgrowing rapidly and we are fortunate to have identified an enthusiastic